Rotary electric switches with cartridge fuses



Oct. 15, 1968 3,406,365

ROTARY ELECTRIC SWITCHES WITH CARTRIDGE FUSES F. G. LAMEYRE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

FIG. I

Oct. 15, 1968 F. G. LAMEYRE 3,406,365

ROTARY ELECTRIC SWITCHES WITH CARTRIDGE FUSES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2, 1966 INVENTOR Felix Gervai A TTORNE Y Oct. 15, 1968 F. G. LAMEYRE 3,406,355

ROTARY ELECTRIC SWITCHES WITH CARTRIDGE FUSES Filed Dec. 2, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 76. 5 I INVENTOR Felix 'Gervuis LAMEYRE ATTORNEY ROTARY ELECTRIC SWITCHES WITH CARTRIDGE FUSES,

Oct. 15, 1968 F. e. LAMEYRE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Dec.

INVENTOA Felix Gervuis L E RF ATTORNEY United States Patent 9 Claims. (31. 337-211 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electric switch formed of a hollow casing defining an inner cartridge chamber. A cartridge-carrying drum rotatable in the chamber between a circuit-making position and a circuit-breaking position. The drum has a tangential operating lever that extends out of the casing through a window, the length of which is such as to allow travel of the lever between the said two positions.

This window, in circuit-breaking position of the lever, is wide enough to allow escape of the cartridge but narrow enough to allow only passage of the lever in the circuit-making position.

The drum has a diametral cavity for the reception of the cartridge and extends in the form of a channel along the operating lever.

Background of the invention (a) Field of the invention.The invention concerns electric rotary switches with cartridge fuses.

(b) Description of the prior art.These devices comprise a case or base having stationary contacts connected to the circuit to be made or broken, and they incorporate a cartridge fuse whose conducting ends normally complete the circuit. The devices also have means for moving the cartridge fuse to break the circuit and they have means for ejecting the cartridge fuse outside the case to facilitate cartridge fuse replacement. The devices fulfill the protective role by employment of fuses, they act as switches and they allow easy replacement of the fuse.

The simplest known type comprises a base with two jaws which each clasp one end of the cartridge fuse. It is suflicient to seize by hand the body of the cartridge fuse and to lift it from one of the jaws to break the circuit. This device, which leaves accessible the conducting jaws, is clearly dangerous to use. The improved known types in which the cartridge fuse is held in a cartridge carrier in insulating material eliminate this risk, but have the following disadvantages: it is easy to short-circuit the contact pins, there is a risk of breakage or loss of the cartridge fuse carrier which is completely detachable from its base, overall dimensions of the device when open are excessive, and while open, the stationary contacts are exposed to dust and to accidental contacts.

Summary of the invention The subject of the present invention is simply constructed switch with cartridge fuse, easily operated, of small dimensions even when open, and in which the stationary contacts are never exposed, and where the cartridge fuse can easily be replaced.

The case constructed with this object in mind is an improvement of a known type essentially comprising, housed within a casing made of insulating material, a cartridge carrier made of insulating material in the form of a drum rotatable under the action of an outer handle and which has a circuit-making position and at least one circuitbreaking position.

According to the invention; the casing has a chamber formed in such a manner as to define, about a transverse 3,406,365 Patented Oct. 15, 1968 axis, a radial stop peripheral wall along the path of said cartridge between its extreme positions, this wall being interrupted by an outlet window corresponding to the circuit-breaking position of the cartridge which lies free to slide in a diametral cavity of the drum whereas, in the circuit-breaking position, cam, gravity or spring actuating means are provided, on the casing and/or on the drum, to push the cartridge through the window.

In accordance with a preferred construction of the invention the case in insulating material is made of two fiat, hollow and symmetrical parts, forming shells around the fiat drum which they enclose.

Preferably the operating lever is an integral part tangentially of the fiat drum, and it crosses the cartridge ejection window while supporting the cartridge fuse by its upper surface in the form of a channel.

Brief description of the drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a switch embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view partly in section of part of the switch,

FIG. 3 is a simplified front view of an alternative construction of a part of the switch,

FIG. 4 is an alternative construction of part of the switch shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an operating lever and of a cartridge carrier hub provided with an ejection spring,

FIG. 6 shows a front face of a case provided with a hub operating stirrup-shaped lever, and

FIG. 7 shows a lateral face of a case provided with an external operating lever.

In FIG. 1 can be seen a switch case made of insulating material formed of two flat shells 1 and 2. The inside of shell 1 can be seen in FIG. 2 which shows the case with the shell 2 removed. The two shells are symmetrical about their junction plane, except for their connection means, male and female respectively, which allow detachable assembly. The female meanssleeves 3-4-and male meansstuds 5-6are shown as example in FIG. 2.

When assembled, these two shells constitute a flat case, which is closed except for a Window 7 at the front, and from the rear wall of which emerges a screw 8 or other means of attachment to the wall on which the switch is to be mounted.

Instead of being formed of two parts symmetrical about a plane perpendicular to the centre line of a shaft 18 mentioned later, the case may consist of two parts symmetrical about a plane parallel to the centre line. The interior of this case is constructed (to advantage by moulding) in such a manner that three housings are provided, each having one half belonging to the shell 1 and being designated in FIG. 2 by reference numbers 9, 10 and 11. In the housings 9 and 10 are built-in stationary contacts 12 and 13 respectively and their tightening means: screws 14 and 15 which cause sliding of connectors 12b and 13b respectively. These stationary contacts are thus connected, in a manner not shown, with conductors of the circuit which is to be opened or closed. They end, as shown, in jaws 16-17 which grip the conductive heads 33a and 33b of a cartridge fuse 33 when the latter is in a closed circuit position.

There is a hole 35 in the case which allows sight of the indication means of the cartridge fuse disengagement should the latter comprise it.

The cartridge fuse 33 is slidable in a cylindrical hollow which diametrically tranverses a shaft 18, which is shown in FIG. 2 cut by the plane of symmetry mentioned above. The shaft 18 is extended tangentially to form an operating lever 19, and pivots in openings 20, formed in the faces of I the two shell-s.

The lever 19 projects through the window 7 (FIG. 1) so as to be operable from outside of the case, and bring, by rotation of the shaft 18 around an axis perpendicular to the two lateral faces of the shells, the cartridge fuse from its circuit making position (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2) to its circuit breaking position (shown in full lines). In the latter position, which is downwardly inclined, the cartridge fuse can slide by gravity into a channel 21 formed in the upper surface of the lever 19 and being an extension of the cylindrical hollow in the shaft 18.

The housing 11 is bounded by circular inclines 22 and 23 (FIG. 2) which prevent sliding of the cartridge fuse, except in the circuit breaking position, the incline 23 being suitably shaped at 24 to that effect. To avoid the cartridge fuse falling out completely, a step 25 is provided at the bottom of the channel 21. When the cartridge fuse abuts this step, the fuse can easily be removed by hand.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the window 7 is narrower at the top than at the bottom. More specifically, at the top its width allows passage of the stem of the lever 19 (whose head is larger to facilitate operation of the lever), While preventing insertion of a finger. At the bottom the window 7 is wide enough to allow the cartridge fuse to move out when in the circuit closed position.

It can be seen in FIG. 2 that, in its lowest position, the lever 19 is inclined at 45 to the horizontal, a stop 27 limiting its downward travel.

Clearly, various construction details of the switch shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be changed and some of these changes are shown in FIGS. 3 to 7,

In FIG. 3 it can be seen that the lateral face of the two shells is cut out at 28 to facilitate the removal of the cartridge fuse from the ejection position.

In FIG. 4, an incline 22a (which corresponds to the incline 22 of FIG. 2) has a boss 22b.-The passage of the cartridge fuse over this boss imparts forward movement to the cartridge fuse to facilitate its ejection. In this figure the stationary contacts 12a, 13a, which are moulded into the shell, have not been cut, and can be seen particularly well. The ejection of the cartridge fuse is accomplished from a position between the two extreme positions of the lever at which the window should be widest.

In the modification shown in FIG. 5, a cartridge fuse carrying shaft 18a is provided with a right-angle part 29 whose one side is parallel with the cartridge fuse, while the other is perpendicular to the inner face of the cartridge fuse. To this perpendicular side is attached on end of a helical spring 30 arranged as extension of the centre line of the cartridge fuse, and whose other end is supported against the said terminal face of the cartridge fuse.

As soon as the operating lever 19a has brought the cartridge fuse opposite the wide part of the window, it is clear that the expansion of the spring will result in the ejection of the cartridge fuse. This version, as that of FIG. 4, does not therefore utilize gravity to effect the ejection of the cartridge fuse. Other ejection means can also be used.

Moreover, the operating lever, instead of being arranged in the plane of symmetry of the case, comprises a stirruplike part 30 (FIG, 6), external to the case and controlling rotation of a driving shaft 31. In this case, the height of the window 7a is only just sufficient for the ejection of the cartridge fuse.

In place of the stirrup-like part, it is possible also to consider a simple control button to operate shaft 31, arranged on the lateral external face of the case, or a flat lever (32, FIG. 7). In FIG. 7, the shaft 31a has a square cross-sectionalthough this is not essential, Various other means to effect rotation of the hub can be considered, the

arrangements described and shown, and in particular those of FIGS. 1 and 2, constituting however, the preferred constructions.

Iclaimv 1. Electric switch with a cartridge fuse of the type essentiallyincludihg a case made of insulating material and provided withstationary contacts, the case housing a cartridge-carrying member made of insulating material in the form of a drum provided with an outer operating lever and capable of rotating between one extreme circuitmaking position wherein the cartridge is locked with said contacts and at least one circuit breaking position wherein the cartridge is free therefrom, the improvements where- (a) the case has an inner chamber formed soas to define about an axis transverse to said case a radial stop peripheral wall along the path of said cartridge between said extreme positions, 7

(b) the peripheral wall is interrupted by a window, for the ejection of said cartridge, corresponding to the circuit-breaking position; i

(c) said drum is formed with a diametral cavity for the reception of said cartridge, free for sliding movement therein, and

(d) actuating means is provided for ejecting said cartridge through said window in said circuit-breaking position. 2. Switch according to claim 1, wherein said drum is a flat cylinder and said actuating lever projects tangentially therefrom, the end of said lever projecting through said window.

3. Switchaccording to claim 2, wherein said lever is formed with a channel in the extension of said diametral cavity.

4. Switch according to claim 1, wherein said window extends, in the direction of said extreme contact-making position, with a narrow slot sufiicient only to allow passage of said lever and prevent ejection of said' cartridge.

5. Switch according to claim 1 wherein, in circuitbreaking extreme position of said cartridge, said lever and window form a line sufficiently inclined in relation to the horizontal to allow said cartridge to fall by gravity and thus constitute said actuating means.

'6. Switch according to claim 3, wherein said channel has a cartridge stop shoulder at the outer end thereof.

7. Switch according to claim 1 wherein, said peripheral wall opposite said window defines a cam to constitute said cartridge ejection actuating means.

8. Switch according to claim 1, wherein said drum has a support on the side thereof opposite said window and a spring in said support to bias said cartridge toward said channel and to constitute said ejection means.

9. Switch according to claim 1, including cut-outs around said window to facilitate withdrawal of sa'id cartridge in said circuit-breaking position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,123,692 3/1964 Weber 200 114 FOREIGN PATENTS 511,376 8/1939v Great Britain.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. I

H. B. GILSON, Assistant Examiner, i 

